Ukraine-Russia war live: Lammy condemns Russian ‘imperialism’ as US announces $700m in funding
Ukrainian prime minister Deny Shmyhal told David Lammy early this afternoon that he ‘hoped’ the UK and US would green-light Kyiv’s use of long-range missiles to target deeper inside Russia
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UK foreign secretary David Lammy has condemned Russian “imperialism” as he visited Kyiv on a joint trip with his US counterpart Antony Blinken.
Mr Lammy warned the security of Ukraine, Europe and the West were at stake and reiterated Britain’s ongoing support for Ukraine at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.
It comes as Mr Blinken pledged over $700m in humanitarian aid for the country - which was invaded by Vladimir Putin in February 2022 - for energy, food, water and de-mining initiatives.
The two countries’ top diplomats arrived in the Ukrainian capital this morning after announcing the joint trip, the first of its kind in almost a decade.
They are due to meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who has consistently asked Kyiv’s western partners to allow them to use donated UK and US long-range missiles on targets in the Russian mainland.
Ahead of the talks, Zelensky said on Wednesday: “Let’s count on some strong decisions on this. For us it is very important for today.”
The White House has reportedly been hesitant to give the green light to Kyiv over fears Russia could then escalate the conflict.
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Lammy and Blinken joint visit to Kyiv amid fears over Iran-Russia missile deal
UK bans Iran Air in new set of Western sanctions
The UK is banning Iran’s national carrier from operating flights to Britain, part of a new set of sanctions over Tehran’s supply of ballistic missiles to Ukraine.
Britain is joined by the US, France and Germany in new measures against Iran Air, which are being enforced alongside travel bans and the freezing of assets of Iranians accused of providing military support to Russia, officials said.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that new sanctions on Iran Air would restrict its commercial flights from Iran to Britain and continental Europe.
Speaking to reporters, Kirby echoed comments earlier in London by US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who said Russia has received ballistic missiles from Iran and will likely use them in Ukraine within weeks.
“The supply of these Iranian missiles, which have a maximum range of about 75 miles, could allow Russia to use more of its arsenal for targets beyond the frontline while employing Iranian warheads for closer-range targets,” Kirby said.
Russia to discuss Ukraine initiatives with BRICS partners
Representatives of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which make up the BRICS alliance, will discuss initiatives on Ukraine at a security-focused meeting starting on Tuesday, the Ria news agency cited Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu as saying.
The meeting is taking place in Russia on 10 - 12 September, he said.
Ukraine and IMF reach deal that would give it access to some $1.1bn
The International Monetary Fund reached a preliminary agreement with Ukraine that would give the war-torn country access to about $1.1bn (£840m) in financial assistance.
The agreement follows what Kyiv said were “difficult” talks and is subject to approval by the fund’s executive board, which the IMF said in a statement is expected to happen in “coming weeks”.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to have a devastating impact on the country and its people,” Gavin Gray, who led the IMF’s monitoring mission to Kyiv for the fifth review of the lending programme, said in a statement. “Skillful policymaking, the adaptability of households and firms, and robust external financing has helped support macroeconomic and financial stability,” he added.
Kyiv is spending about 60 per cent of its total budget to fund its army and relies heavily on financial support from its Western partners to pay pensions and wages to public sector employees and finance social and humanitarian spending.
Biden might lift ban on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons to strike Russia
Joe Biden said his administration is “working out” how the US can lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long range weapons in its war against Russia.
The US has been reluctant to supply or sanction the use of weapons that could strike targets deep inside in Russia for fear it would escalate the conflict.
Kyiv’s other allies have been supplying weapons, but with restrictions on how and when they can be used inside Russia, out of concern such strikes could prompt retaliation that draws Nato countries into the war or provoke a nuclear conflict.
The US was close to an agreement to give Ukraine such weapons, but Kyiv will still need to wait several months as the US works through technical issues ahead of any shipment, according to sources aware of the matter.
Pictures: Russian building on fire after Ukrainian drone strike
Ukraine struck Moscow and western Russia in one of its biggest ever drone attacks, killing at least one woman, wrecking dozens of homes and forcing the closure of major airports in the capital, Russian officials said.
Social media videos showed flames bursting out of windows of a multi-storey residential building, saying that dozens of flats were damaged in the Ramenskoye district.
“I looked at the window and saw a ball of fire,” Alexander Li, a resident of the district told Reuters. “The window got blown out by the shockwave.”
The Ramenskoye district, some 50km (31 miles) southeast from the Kremlin, has a population of around quarter a million of people, according to official data.
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